Permitting Improvement Program | City of Vancouver
Requirements move from a development permit application to plumbing permits
Approved
Comes into effect for new complex buildings on January 1, 2024
Electronic plan
(ePlan)
Electronic plan (ePlan) accepts electronic plans for permit types, electronic seals, and signatures.
Development and building permit applications are now accepted, paid, and processed electronically.
Significantly reduced costs related to printing, courier, drop off wait time, and customer experience
Reduce paper-based work and in-person visits
Completed
Launched
(Looking at scheduling additional sessions.)
Waive penalties and prior unpermitted work
Waive penalties and requirements to resolve for previously unpermitted work carried out, unless it’s a life-saving issue.
Reduction in staff research
2 weeks processing time per application
Completed
Pilot a 12-month partial relaxation of the Tree By-law
Trees smaller than 30centimetre diameter may be removed without a tree permit.
2 weeks processing time per application
Completed
(Restored to 20 centimetre diametre.)
Faster processing for single family houses, duplexes, and laneway applications
Shortened initial review time
Initial contact within 2-3 days
Faster delivery of initial deficiency list
75% faster per application
Nearly 16 weeks per application
2 weeks per application
Completed
Faster processing for laneway applications
Standalone stream provides quicker initial review.
12 weeks per application
Completed
Faster processing for less-complex residential renovations
Streamlined approval
7 weeks per application
Completed
Landscape review
Reduced landscape review for demolition permits, renovations, and field reviews.
3 weeks processing time per application
Completed
Improved data collection
Pilot new data collection to streamline energy compliance (ASHRAE) process.
2 weeks processing time
per application
Completed
(Eliminated a backlog of 3,000 applications.)
Online enquiry form
Building and development enquiries can now be submitted through an online form. You’ll receive a tracking number which you can use to follow up in our Van311 app.
Significant savings in trips to City Hall,
improved service levels, traceability of requests, and customer experience
Completed
Electronic plan (ePlan)
Electronic plan (ePlan) accepts electronic plans for permit types, electronic seals, and signatures.
Development and building permit applications are now accepted, paid, and processed electronically.
Significantly reduced costs related to printing, courier, drop off wait time, and customer experience
Reduce paper-based work and in-person visits
Completed
Inspections
Booking or cancelling an inspection is now a one-stop process with everything you need on one page.
Improvements in efficiency, service levels, and customer experience
Applicants for less complex renovations processed in as little as 2 weeks
Completed
Excavation and shoring
Eligible new developments who require excavation or shoring may receive their building permit in advance of their development permit.
Increased flexibility to begin excavation or shoring while other components of the project are finalized
Completed
Reduce requirements and costs for businesses (24-month pilot program)
Waive development permit for eligible businesses(general office, retail store, health care office, barber shop, or beauty salon, and beauty and wellness centre) changing to a different use.
Waive occupancy upgrade for eligible businesses changing between office use and mercantile.
Increase parking minimums for commercial or heritage zones to 300m.
Up to 20 weeks processing time per application for eligible businesses* changing to a different use
Up to 8 weeks processing time per application for eligible businesses changing between personal use and mercantile
Completed
(Dedicated fast-track online enquiry and application page was launched in spring 2022.)
Reduced Vancouver Building Bylaw (24-month pilot program)
Simplified application and review process.
Small suites occupancy increased to 100 persons.
Subdividing a suite no longer triggers a major renovation.
Up to 17 weeks processing and review time per application
Completed
Site drawings
Simplified site drawing requirements for eligible residential and commercial renovations.
One week processing and review per application
Completed
On-site review
Detailed review of commercial and residential renovation permits will now be completed by inspectors.
Increased office staff to review applications and clear backlogs
Up to 4 weeks processing and review per application
Requirements move from a development permit application to plumbing permits
Approved
Comes into effect for new complex buildings on January 1, 2024
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